Catholic Missal of the day: Thursday, June 22 2017
Thursday of the Eleventh week in Ordinary Time
Thursday of the Eleventh week in Ordinary Time
1. ReadingSecond Letter to the Corinthians
11,1-11.]Brothers and sisters: If only you would put up with a little foolishness from me! Please put up with me.
]For I am jealous of you with the jealousy of God, since I betrothed you to one husband to present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
]But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts may be corrupted from a sincere (and pure) commitment to Christ.
]For if someone comes and preaches another Jesus than the one we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it well enough.
]For I think that I am not in any way inferior to these "superapostles."
]Even if I am untrained in speaking, I am not so in knowledge; in every way we have made this plain to you in all things.
]Did I make a mistake when I humbled myself so that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you without charge?
]I plundered other churches by accepting from them in order to minister to you.
]And when I was with you and in need, I did not burden anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied my needs. So I refrained and will refrain from burdening you in any way.
]By the truth of Christ in me, this boast of mine shall not be silenced in the regions of Achaia.
]And why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!
Psalms
111(110),1-2.3-4.7-8.]I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart
in the company and assembly of the just.
]Great are the works of the LORD,
exquisite in all their delights.
]Majesty and glory are his work,
and his justice endures forever.
]He has won renown for his wondrous deeds;
gracious and merciful is the LORD.
]The works of his hands are faithful and just;
sure are all his precepts,
]Reliable forever and ever,
wrought in truth and equity.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew
6,7-15.]Jesus said to his disciples:
"In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words.
]Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
]This is how you are to pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
]your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven.
]Give us today our daily bread;
]and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors;
]and do not subject us to the final test, but deliver us from the evil one.
]If you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you.
]But if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions."
St. Thomas More(Martyr (1478-1535))
SAINT THOMAS MOREMartyr(1478-1535) The life and martyrdom of Saint Thomas More has been the source of a message spanning the centuries, and which speaks to people everywhere of the inalienable dignity of the human conscience, which (...) is "the most intimate center and sanctuary of a person, in which he or she is alone with God, whose voice echoes within them" (Gaudium et Spes, 16). Whenever men or women heed the call of truth, their conscience then guides their actions reliably towards good. Precisely because of the witness which he bore, even at the price of his life, to the primacy of truth over power, Saint Thomas More is venerated as an imperishable example of moral integrity. And even outside the Church, particularly among those with responsibility for the destinies of peoples, he is acknowledged as a source of inspiration for a political system that has as its supreme goal the service of the human person. Thomas More had a remarkable political career in his native land. Born in London in 1478 to a respectable family, as a young boy he was placed in the service of the Archbishop of Canterbury, John Morton, Lord Chancellor of the Realm. He studied law at Oxford and in London, and broadened his interests in culture, theology and classical literature. He mastered Greek and enjoyed the company and friendship of important figures of Renaissance culture, including Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam. His sincere religious sentiment led him to cultivate virtues through asceticism. He also befriended the Observant Franciscans of the Friary in Greenwich and lived at the London Charterhouse, which were main centers of religious fervor. Feeling himself called to marriage, family life and dedication as a layman, he married Jane Colt in 1505. They had four children together before Jane passed away in 1511. Thomas then married Alice Middleton, a widow with one daughter. Thomas was an affectionate and faithful husband and father. He was deeply involved in his children's religious, moral and intellectual education. His house offered a welcome to his children's spouses and his grandchildren, and was always open to his many young friends who were searching for truth or their calling. Family life gave him ample opportunity for prayer in common and lectio divina, as well as for happy and wholesome relaxation. He attended daily Mass at the parish church, but his austere penances were only known to his immediate family. Thomas was elected to Parliament for the first time in 1504 under King Henry VII. King Henry VIII renewed Thomas' mandate in 1510, and even made him the Crown's representative at the capitol. During the following decade, the king sent Thomas on several diplomatic and commercial missions to Flanders and the territory of present-day France. Having been made a member of the King's Council, presiding judge of an important tribunal, deputy treasurer and a knight, in 1523 he became Speaker of the House of Commons. Highly esteemed by everyone for his moral integrity, sharpness of mind, humorous character and extraordinary learning, Thomas was appointed lord chancellor by the king in 1529. He was the first layman to occupy this position, which was especially challenging because of King Henry VIII's contentious relationship with the pope. In 1532, not wishing to support Henry VIII's intention to take control of the Church in England, Thomas resigned. He withdrew from public life and accepted poverty with his family and desertion by many false friends. Given Thomas' inflexible firmness in rejecting any compromise with his own conscience, the king imprisoned him at the Tower of London in 1534. He refused to take the oath requested of him since it would have involved accepting a political and ecclesiastical arrangement that prepared the way for despotism. At his trial, he made an impassioned defense of his own convictions on the indissolubility of marriage, the respect due to the juridical patrimony of Christian civilization, and the freedom of the Church in her relations with the State. Condemned by the Court, he was beheaded. Thomas More and 53 other martyrs, including Bishop John Fisher, were beatified by Pope Leo XIII in 1886. They were canonized by Pope Pius XI in 1935, on the fourth centenary of Thomas' martyrdom. Saint Thomas More's life clearly illustrates a fundamental truth of political ethics. The defense of the Church's freedom from unwarranted interference by the State is at the same time a defense, in the name of the primacy of conscience, of the individual's freedom vis-á-vis political power. Here we find the basic principle of every civil order consonant with human nature. Therefore, after due consideration and willingly acceding to the petitions addressed to me, I establish and declare Saint Thomas More the heavenly Patron of Statesmen and Politicians, and I decree that he be ascribed all the liturgical honors and privileges which, according to law, belong to the patrons of categories of people.(St. John Paul II - Apostolic letter issued Motu Proprio proclaiming Saint Thomas More Patron of Statesmen and Politicians - October 31, 2000)
St. John Fisher(Bishop and Martyr (1459-1535))
SAINT JOHN FISHERBishop and Martyr(1459-1535) St. John Fisher was born in Beverly, Yorkshire, and was educated at Cambridge University. He received a Master of Arts in 1491 and occupied the vicarage of Northallerton from 1491 to 1494. He became Cambridge University's proctor. In 1497, Father John was appointed confessor to Lady Margaret Beaufort, the mother of Henry VII. He became closely associated in her endowments to Cambridge: creating scholarships, introducing Greek and Hebrew into the curriculum and bringing in the world-famous Erasmus as professor of Divinity and Greek. In 1504, he became the bishop of Rochester and chancellor of Cambridge. He also tutored Prince Henry, the future King Henry VIII. From 1527 onward, Bishop John steadfastly resisted King Henry VIII's encroachment on the Church. He opposed Henry's takeover as head of the Church in England. He also opposed Henry's divorce proceedings against Catherine and refused to take the oath of succession acknowledging Henry's mistress Anne as the legitimate heir to the throne. In retaliation, Henry imprisoned Bp. John at the Tower of England in April 1534. The next year, Bp. John was made a Cardinal by Pope Paul III. Henry retaliated by having Bp. John beheaded later that month. A half hour before his execution, Bp. John opened his New Testament for the last time and read the following words from St. John's Gospel: "Eternal life is this: to know You, the only true God, and Him Whom You have sent, Jesus Christ. I have given you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. Do you now, Father, give me glory at your side." Closing the book, he observed: "There is enough learning in that to last me a lifetime."
St. Paulinus of Nola(Bishop (353-431))
SAINT PAULINUS OF NOLABishop (353-431) Paulinus was from a family of senators, prefects and consuls. His eloquent writings and prose were admired by St. Jerome and St. Augustine. He had more than doubled his wealth by marriage. He was a friend of saints and was devoted to St. Felix of Nola. Paulinus received baptism and later moved to Spain. After a period of contemplation, he and his holy wife sold their vast estates in various parts of the empire. St. Jerome says the East and West were filled with their alms. Paulinus was ordained, retired to Nola in Campania and rebuilt the Church of St. Felix.In 409, he was consecrated bishop. He served for more than thirty years during an age of many great and wise bishops. St. Gregory the Great tells us that when the Vandals of Africa descended on Campania, Bp. Paulinus spent everything to relieve the people's distress and ransom them from slavery. After becoming bankrupt, he exchanged places with a poor widow's son who had been captured by the Vandal king's son-in-law. He toiled as agardener for some time until the Vandal king learned that the bishop of Nola was his son-in-law's slave. The Vandal king freed Bp. Paulinus and Nola's townsmen. Bp. Paulinus' devotion to martyr-saints inspired others to venerate them. His building projects, patronage of the arts and participation in synods were signs of an exemplary pastor. He passed away in 431, but is still celebrated in Nola, southern Italy, and by Italian-American communities.
Category: Mass by Year / Catholic Missal 2017 / Catholic Missal of june 2017
Published: 2026-07-14T18:16:16Z | Modified: 2026-07-14T18:16:16Z